Loughner gets life in prision for Arizona mass shooting

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Loughner gets life in prision for Arizona mass shooting

By the CNN Wire Staff

(CNN) – Jared Loughner, the Arizona man who pleaded guilty to the attempted assassination of then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the January 2011 shooting, which killed six people and wounded 13 others, including Giffords.

”It was an assault on democracy,” said the U.S. attorney prosecuting Jared Loughner for the January 2011 attempted assassination of then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, the killing of six other people and attempted murder of 13 others. The comment came after a judge heard from several victims and just before a sentence was to be imposed.

“The evidence clearly shows that he knew what he was doing, despite his mental illness,” U.S. District Judge Larry Burns said.

“Now you must pay the price of the terror, violence and injuries you caused,” said Rep. Ron Barber, who now holds the congressional seat vacated by Giffords.

Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, with the help of aides, returned to a sentencing hearing for the man who pleaded guilty to attempting to assassinate her. She had walked out of the hearing earlier as other victims read impact statements.

A prison psychologist testified at Jared Loughner’s sentencing hearing Thursday that the Arizona man who pleaded guilty to the attempted assassination of then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is competent and understands proceedings.

The congresswoman was holding a meet-and-greet event with constituents in Tucson when Loughner walked up and shot her in the head.

Giffords stepped down from her position in Congress in January 2012 to focus on her recovery and has since regained the ability to speak and walk, though her right side remains weak.

As part of a plea deal with the government, Loughner, 24, pleaded guilty in August to 19 charges in exchange for the sentence to avoid facing the death penalty.

Loughner had been facing more than 50 federal charges, and the remaining offenses were dropped in exchange for the guilty pleas if Loughner is sentenced within the terms of the plea agreement, according to a written agreement filed in court.

Under the pleas, Loughner admitted guilt in the wounding of Giffords and the murders of federal employees U.S. District Court Chief Judge John M. Roll, 63, and congressional aide Gabriel M. Zimmerman, 30, prosecutors said.

Loughner admitted injuring with a Glock pistol 10 people participating at an activity provided by the U.S. government and creating a grave risk of death to 13 more people, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors agreed to the plea deal after taking into account Loughner’s history of mental illness and the views of victims and their families. The judge in August ruled Loughner competent to stand trial.

Kelly said after the plea deal that he and his wife were satisfied with the agreement.